Favorite Gifts for People with an Appetite

{For the baker ~ artisan extracts from Sonoma Syrup Co.}

{For the coffee drinker ~ Ethiopian coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee Company}

{For the snacker ~ an olive oil dipping set from St. Helena Olive Oil Co.}

{For chefs of all sizes ~ a lovely apron from Etsy.com}

Game Prizes sans Perfume

At the baby shower I helped plan a few weeks ago I was in charge of buying or making prizes for the shower games. Since we had just as many men as women coming, my big dilemma was what exactly a "game prize" should be. My online search told me that the most appropriate shower prizes include: lotions, scented candles, sachets, and lip gloss. These options clearly wouldn't do ~ I didn't want the guys to bolt, afterall! Then I thought about chocolate, but we were already having chocolate cake and chocolate favors.

In the end I made up a double batch of my homemade salsa (recipe here), which these friends have always enjoyed.






After adding a little cuteness, I felt like I had some very respectable game prizes to offer. No makeup or girlie scents in sight!


I'm happy to report that the guys did not bolt from the party. We had an all-around great time!

Still Excited...

I'm still super excited! My first giveaway, which is being offered by CSN Stores, ends next week. Don't forget to check it out!

My First Giveaway!

I am super excited to announce the start of the very first giveaway on Appetite for Conversation!!! CSN Stores will be giving one lucky reader a $40 gift certificate to use at any one of their 200+ online stores. That’s $40!!! Just for being one of my readers!!! I hope you can tell how excited I am!!!

There’s something for everyone at the CSN sites. Need a new dining table? They've got it. Hoping to adorn your dining table? They have that too. Maybe you need more help with kitchen items? Home decor? Baby items? Look no further. They've got it all. And... many products are on sale right now and certain items even come with free shipping.

{Nordicware Pumpkin Bundt Pan found here}

There are several ways you can enter, but please note that the giveaway is limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada. For each entry leave a comment on this post telling me that you’ve entered. You can:

1. Subscribe to Appetite for Conversation in a reader
   
2. Become a Follower or Friend of Appetite for Conversation on Foodbuzz
3. Link to an Appetite for Conversation recipe, post, or this giveaway post on your own blog
4. Follow Appetite for Conversation on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway
5. Leave a comment letting me know what you would buy with the gift certificate from CSN Stores
   

This means you can enter up to 5 times! Just don't forget to leave a separate comment here for each entry. The giveaway will end Friday, September 10 at 11:59pm PST, and I will announce a winner Monday, September 13.

Good luck!

Disclaimer:CSN Stores will provide one gift certificate to one of my readers, and I am not receiving any compensation for this post.

A Hint for Santa

Dearest Santa,

I know that you have a challenging night ahead of you. And I know that you probably have a challenging toy-prepping season behind you. So I really hope that my toddler's somewhat challenging gift requests didn't stump you too much.

Her first request, a princess doll, was probably an absolute breeze for you. But a yellow dress in December? That's a harder one, particularly since my toddler asked for a yellow dress just like one of the Bye Bye Birdie characters wore in the Thanksgiving Day parade. My toddler notices details, too. She wanted the cute sleeves, the white detailing, the works. And even though she's only 3 1/2, she's discriminating.

Her final request might have been the most challenging. She asked for a telescope. A real telescope. And I'm sure you can't afford to break the bank on an authentic scientific instrument with all the bells and whistles. Plus, my toddler would surely break it in a matter of days. Yet a more age-appropriate view finder toy just wouldn't do either. My toddler is planning to look at stars with this toy, afterall.

Santa, here's a little hint for you. When you get challenging gift requests like these there is just one answer. Well two, actually.

First, love the Internet. Get to know it, nurture it, love it. It can only help you if you give it a chance, though, so be sure to give it its due respect. You know - trust and all that.

Second, start early. That whole shipping thing can really create problems if you let it. So even if you ONLY tackle the most challenging gift requests early, before you've wrapped up other things like final exams and law school term papers, do it. And do it early.

I know that you're a smart guy, so you've probably figured all of this out already. You probably know that these items would be the perfect answer for my toddler's challenging gift requests:

Available here.


Available here.

Santa, thanks for being on top of things. My toddler will be thrilled. Happy sledding! (wink, wink)

Go hot!

When I need to be reinvigorated, what I reach for most often is a cup of hot tea. I don't know why exactly, but there's something about hot drinks that energizes me and brings me to life. And I'm talking decaf, too.

If you're looking to "go hot" yourself, you might try the Black Currant tea from Peet's. Or, if you'd like to help somebody else "go hot" then you might give the tea alongside one of the many great tea brewing options out there. I love this option for brewing an individual cup.


Or this simple, but cute, teapot.


Incidentally, I have never actually owned any Black Currant tea myself, although I've tasted it and given it to others on several occasions. I sure wouldn't mind if it showed up in my stocking this year. (hint, hint) Hubby, are you reading?

Things are changing

Things are changing around here. We've pulled out our favorite Christmas music, like this upbeat one from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. It always gets us dancing.


My amaryllis is getting ready to bloom.


I have a festive tablecloth on the table. And with this vanilla cookie candle going, it at least smells like there are Christmas cookies baking in the oven.


My toddler has watched this Nutcracker Ballet DVD three days in a row. We love it, by the way, and it makes for a great gift for any toddler dreaming of becoming a ballerina.


And I'm busily studying for a law school final. That's part of the holidays, right? Thankfully, I know better. And it won't be a part of my holidays either after next Friday. Yippee!